Record controlled perforating machine



March 3, 1942. R. B. JOHNSON 2,275,396

RECORD CONTROLLED PERFORATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR l l\ yf) I HMV ,IHIIINIL c@ ATTORNEY March 3, 1942. R. Bf. JQHNSON 2,275,396

RECORD GONTROLLED PERFORATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 194] 5 Sheets-Shea?I 2 l' ATTORNEY March 3, 1942. R B, JOHNSON 2,275,396

RECORD CONTROLLED PERFORATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F'IG.5.

INVENTOR ATTORN EY March 3, 1942. R, B. JOHNSON RECORD CONTROLLED PERFORATING- MACHINE Filed March 19, 1941 5 SheetsfSheet 4 FIGB.

March 3, 1942. R, B, JOHNSQN 2,275,396

RECORD CONTROLLED PERFORATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Shee'fI 5 FIG] ` AT'TORNEY Pstenad Mar. 3, 1942 s PATENT -or Fics RECORD CONTROILED PEBFORATING MACHINE vReynolli B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assiggor s to International Business Machines Corpora'- tion, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appncauomeh 19, 1941, serial No. 384,155

17 Claims.

A This invention relates to a machine for perforating record cards, and, more particularly to a perforating machine, wherein, diierentially positioned conductive'marks are sensed on suc-l cessive record cards for effecting the punching of perforations thereon, in'positions corresponding to the sensed conductive marks. The present invention is an improvement of the perforating machine described in U. S. Patent No. 2,007,391, wherein conductive marks are sensed for controlling the punching of, the perforations on the sensed record cards. In the said patent, the sensed data are stored in electromechanically operated'relays, which relays, in turn, control the operations of the punch magnets, upon completion of the sensingI operations. In order to effect sensing of the conductive marks on the record cards, andperforating of the sensed cards, at a faster rate, the instant invention is proposed, and is arranged as an auxiliary device, which can be used in the well known type of high speed reproducing perforation machine, described in Reissue Patent No. 21,133.- V

The present invention comprises a rotary type of data storage means, which is operated, in synchronism, with the record card feeding mechanism. The sensed data, represented by the differentially disposed conductive marks, are stored from those which are in conformity with'the sensed cards.

Accordingly, an objectof the present invention.

resides in the provision of an improved perforat-` ing machine, whereby conductive marks on record cards are sensed for effecting perforating of the sensed records in accordance with the sensed data.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved perforating machine wherein the perforated records are sensed immediately for determining whether the records are perforated so as to conform to the sensed records, and segregating th non-conforming records from the others.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved data storage mechanism, which is operated in synchronism with the record feeding means, for controlling the lperforating operations at a later time in the machine cycle.

Still lanotherl object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved segregatfora predetermined number of cycle points of the machine. Upon the passage of the sensed record cards under the punches, the said synchronously operated storage means become eiective to control the operations of the punches, thereby effecting perforating of the sensed record cards in positions corresponding to the sensed conductive marks. Inl addition thereto, means are provided, whereby the perforations are immediately sensed to control theoperations of a record card segregating device.

It has been found, in mark sensing devices of the type suggested, due to the possibility of improperly formed conductive marks, or the presence of superfluous conductive marks thereon, and the like, that, provision must be made for checking the perforations punched in the sensed record cards, in order to determine, that false punching operations have not been eected, and, to determine, that the desired number of punching operations have been effected. Therefore, control circuits are provided, under control of the perforation sensing means, for controlling the operations of the card segregating device, whereby, all punched record cards which are at variance with the sensed cards are segregated ing device, in a machine of the type described, for segregating non-conforming records from the others.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the'following description and claims and illustrated vin the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the inventionand the best mode, which 4has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: e

Fig. l is a sectional elevation view of the machine showing the feeding, sensing and perforating devices.

Fig. 2 is a simplified detail view showing, in part, ythe driving mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3 is av detail view showing a portion of a record card. s

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the sets of sensing brushes. y f

' Fig. 5 is an elevation view, shown partly in section, showing the elements of the data storing device.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the data storing device, having part. of the side frame removed. A

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view` of the card oisetting device.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the control elements of the card offsetting device.

' operation of the saidfmachine, the same refer.`

ence characters are employed.- as in the patent to facilitate ready reference thereto for further detailed explanation thereof. 'Ihe reference numerals applied to the mechanism constituting the auxiliary device will accordingly begin with number 333.

The perforated pattern cards I3 are fed from the hopper R, by means of the oscillating arm i1 and reciprocating slide I3 carrying a picker Il, to a pair of feed rollers I3, 33, the latter conveying the individually fed cards to a sensing station, including brushes Ii and contact roller 232. From the said sensing station the cards are fed by rollers 3 5, I3 past a second sensing station comprising brushes It and contact roller 23|, and then, by means of rollers 33, 3.1 to the dis- 'charge hopper l2.

Blank cards are fed from the hopper P by the oscillating arm 33, reciprocating slide 34, and picker 3l to the feed rollers |33, |34, which rollers convey the said card to and past the punching station, comprising a row of punches I3 and die |61. Rollers III, |03 then convey the plmched card past the sensing station, comprisnet PM were energized.

Energization of the said magnet PM will rock its armature structure |30, drawing a link |32 toward the right, to effect coupling between an interposer |36 and a plate |34. The plate |34 is carried by member |11 pivoted at |83 and oscillated, by means of a link |13 connected arm |13 on shaft |15.

It is deemed suilicient, for the purposes of the present invention, to state, merely, that, as the pattern` card I3 passes brushes II, circuits are completed through the perforations in the pattern card to energize punch magnets PM, which magnets will effect coupling of the related punches to the oscillating plate |33, and eii'ect punching in the corresponding index point positions of the blank card. After the pattern cards and blank cards have passed their respective sensing and punching stations, they pass, concurrently, the sets of checking brushes I3 and Il, respectively.

The main part of the driving mechanism of the machine is shown in Fig. 2, and comprises. briefly, a continuously rotating gear 26 fixed on shaft 2B, which is driven by a motor and suitable driving connections (not shown). By means of gears 21 and 23, the said gear 28 eilects rotatoan - tion of the punch clutch driving gear 30 and Gear Clutch gear 32 which is attached to the latter. 33 is rotatably mounted on shaft 3|.

l connections are provided (which for this descrip- 31 to shaft 33 to'which gear 3| is secured. The said shaft is provided with an eccentric (not shown) for operating the card feed picker slide I3. Feed rollers' Il and 33 are driven by the gears 3|, 32 and I3, 34. Gear 33 which is driven -by gear 33 drives the contact roller 232. The

other feed rollers of the master card section of the `,machine are driven by gear 13." This last mentioned gear meshes with gear 33, which, in turn, drives gear 31 attached to feed roller 33. Another gear 33 on feed roller 33 meshes with a gear 33 attached to shaft 3| carrying the P cams. Gear 33 meshes with gear 32 to drive the gear connections 33, Il, 33, 33, 33, |33 and III to rotate rollers 31, 3l. t3, and 23|.

'I'he card picker Il of the punch section is `reciprocated by means of cams (not shown) securedon shaft 3|. and contact roller are driven by -gear connections rotated by gear 23 which comprise gears |23, |23, |33, |34,V |33, and |35 to |32.

The description, up to this point, relates solely to the prior art machine described in greater detail in the aforementioned reissue patent which canbe referred'to for the description of the starting and operating control elements, and circuits for rendering the mechanism, which will be referred to hereinbelow, continuously operated.

. In the description to follow, the record cards containing the conductive marks (which can be made, for example, by suitable graphite pencils) are placed in the hopper P, and are fed individually and successively therefrom by the card picker 34 to the feed rollers |33, |04.

A portion of a record ca rd is shown in Fig'. 3 having conductive marks 300 formed at the 3," 9, and 5 index point or marking positions. Por practical reasons, the said conductive marks are formed across three normal columnar areas of the well known type of Hollerith card.

These cards are then fed by the said feed rollers past a mark sensing station, which is disposed ahead of the punching station, and comprises the sensing brush assembly 33| and insulating bar 332. In fact, the sensing brushes are provided in addition to the usual punch master card brush |1 (shown in the said reissue patent) and are placed in the same location as the said brush, with respect to the punching station. Each set of mark sensing brushes (see Figs. 4 and 9) comprises a plurality of spaced sets of stranded wires 603, which are disposed in an insulating member 3M. The said sensing brushes are arranged with respect to the punching station, so that the index mark positions on lthe cards are sensed three cycle points before the corresponding index mark positions sensed are fed to the punching station.

An improved data storage device is controlled by the sensing brushes, upon sensing the conductive marks, for storing the sensed data for three points of the machine cycle, and then adapted to effect the energization of the related punch magnets PM to' perforate the records in index point positions corresponding to the sensed marks. M/

In Fig. 3, the perforations, corresponding to the data represented by the conductive marks, are shown in the related 3, 9," and"5 index point positions. It will be noted, with reference to Fig. 3, that the marking positions for the conductive marks are located above the corresponding punching positions, for example, the 3 marking position is located between the 2" and ,3 punching positions. In this manner, when- The punch feeding ,rollers No. 2,007,391-1113. 4 and lines 36-49 right, page'.

Each set of sensing brushes 603 is connected to the input of a suitable electronic amplifier '605 (see Fig. 9), which is connected to be normally non-conductive, so that the related magnet DRM included in its output circuit remains deenergized, until a conductive mark engages and sensing a conductive mark the brushes 003 are bridged to render the amplifier 606 conductive to energize the magnet DRM in itsv output cir.-

vcuit. Cam controlled contacts CISa are closed each time an index point position onthe card passes the sensing station, and'functions the" same as the contacts CIB (described in-the said bridges the insulated brush strands, thereby l causing the associated ampliiler'to 'become conductive to energize the magnet DRM in its output circuit. Further description of this type of sensing means is not deemed necessary, in view of the description of a similar type of sensing circuit described in U. S. Patent No. 2,209,106, see Fig. 16, upper left, and see lines 64-75 right page 4, and lines 1 5 left, page 5.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the data stor-` age device is shown to comprise a plurality of circumferentially arranged and equally spaced magnets DRM .which are secured to eachxed side member 606. Fixed to shaft 601 is an armature retainer ring 608, made of suitable conduct ing material, and secured to the said shaft in a conductive relationship thereto. 'Ihe retainer..

ring .comprises an inner circular section 6II and an outer circular section 6I6, each section suitably slotted to receive a group of equally spaced and radially arranged armatures 609..

One end of each armature is yprovided with a notch 6I0, which normally engages the inner slotted circular section 6II to retain each' armature in a latched position as shown.

The said shaft 601 is rotatably mounted in the side members 606, and suitably insulated therefrom, and has secured at one end thereof, a gear 6I2, made of suitable insulating material, which gear is rotated by gear 86 (Fig. 2). At the other end of said shaft a suitable contact spring 6I3 is arranged to constantly engagetheshaft.

Now assume, during the rotation of the latched armatures, that, one of the magnets DRM is energized, thereby attractingvthe armature passing thereby, and unlatching the said armature from the inner section 6II. By means of spring 6H, the released armature is urged in an outwardly direction, so that the stop SI5 thereof engages the inner circumference of the outer section 6I6 of the retainer ring. It should be mentioned that the armature ring is rotated by gears 86 and 6I2 in a timed relationship with the passage of the index point positions past the sensing station, i. e. an armature is arranged to be passing each magnet at the time an index point position passes the sensing brushes.

During the rotation of the released armature, the end thereof engages the xed, arcuately shaped contact member 6 I 1, the latter being fixed at a distance from the related magnet, so that the released armature engages the contact member three cycle points later. Due to the arcuate shape of the said contact member, additional rotation of the released armature causes the latter to be pushed inwardly so as to become latched in the normal position. As shown in Fig. 6, a contact member is provided for each magnet, and xed at thesame distances from the related magnets.

With reference now to Fig. 9, and assuming that the marked cards are fed continuously by the mechanism described hereinabove, upon reissue patent). Cam controlled contacts P26v are closed during the entire part of .the sensing cycle (which, as is -well known, is less than a machine cycle). Upon energization of the said magnet DRM, one of the armatures 609, passing thereby, is released so that three cycle points later a circuit is established from conductor 200 to contacts MIZb, punch magnet PM, contact member 6I1, released'armature 609, shaft 601, contact spring 6I3,1 conductor 6I8, contactsAPCI, CIS, and cam -contacts 'PI to ,conductor 20I, thereby energizing the said punch magnet. Upon energization of the punch magnet the related punch I8 is operated to perforate the sensed card in an index point position corresponding to that of the sensed conductive mark. 'I'he released armature is., then relatched a's described. It should be mentioned, that, at the times, the unreleased armatures engage the arcuately shaped contact members 6I1, cam controlled contacts CI5 are opened, each cycle. point of the machine during the sensing cycle, so as to prevent the .completion of any circuits to the punch magnets PM by the engagement of the unreleased armatures and the said contact members.

It is understood that a plurality of columns on the cards are sensed simultaneously, and

that the described circuits are duplicated for each desired column. The capacity of the described storage device is 16 columns, which ob- `fed by rollers |05, |06 past the punch sensing station orchecking station, comprising sensing brushes I9, to determine the conformity of the punched cards with the sensed marks formed thereon, by detecting the presence of doubleA punchings in the individual columns on the cards, or the absence of punchings therein, when such perforations should be present. Those punched cards which are at variance with the sensed cards, in this respect, are segregated from the other cards, by means of a novel offsetting device.

The control circuits will be explained first, with reference to Fig. 9, wherein the circuit connections for checking one column only are shown. It is obvious and understood that similar circuit connections are employed for checking other desired columns. The perforations in the cards are sensed by brushes I9 to complete a circuit as follows: line 200, magnet M26, contacts M21a, brush I9, conducting roller'221, contacts PCI and CI5, cam contacts PI to line 20I energizing said magnet. A holding circuit is established therefor, by means of contacts M26b, which contacts connect both magnets M26 and M21 across the said lines. Energization of the latter 4(which occurs after contacts CIS open) causes contacts M21a to open and M'21b to close, thus completing a circuit from brush I9 to the pickup coil p of relay M25. In the event, a second perforation is not sensed in the column on the card in question, further con.- trol operationsare not effected.

However, assume that. one of the sensed cards is marked incorrectly, and contains two marks in one of the columns where only one should be. Two perforations are caused to be punched in this column on the card by the circuits Just described. Upon detection of the nrst perforation control magnet SM of the segregating device.-

thereby causing this card to be segregated from the others. The control circuits are returned to latter is latched by the latch`member |21. The said shaft |2i is rotated bythe gearing indicated by the reference lnumeral and gear I||. In thisvmanner. cards having double punchings or blank areas, where perforations should be present, are segregated from 'theother punched cards.

Vin the discharge hopper Il.

Whiletherehasbeenshownanddescribedand pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as ap ed to a single modification it will be und that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation normal near the end of themachine cycle when contacts Pi are opened. l

In the event. the card is devoid of a perforation, where one should be, this blank condition is detected in the following manner. are closed momentarily, immediately after the sensing operations, and slightly before the closure of cam contacts C2|, to send an impulse to the pickup coil p of the relay M through the normally closed contacts M2|a. For this assumed condition magnet M2| is not energized. 'I'he 4de- Cam contact C2i maybemadebythoseskilledintheart,without departing from the vspiritof theginvention. It

is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: n

l. A cyclically operable perforating .machine comprising,n means for sensing successively the index point positions of an imperforate record bearing data designations, during each cycle'of the machine, perforating means, means, operating in synhronisinl with the sensing means,

scribed holding circuit is then established for relay M2|,'so that the contacts M2511 are held closed until contacts C2| are closed to effect energization of the said control magnetSM. In this manner. the blank conditions on the cards are detected.

Referring now to Figs. 'I and 8, the segregating or offsetting device will be explained. The mutilated stacker rolls |2| are mounted on the rotating shaft |2I which is arranged to move axially in the side members |22. A spring. |23 maintains the shaft and stacker rolls in the normal position shownin Fig. 7. At one end of the said shaft two cam members are provided namely |2| and |25, respectively. The cam member |24 is an offsetting cam, and the memberl |2| is a restoring cam.

'A camv roller |2| is provided, the positioning of which is controlled by a latch member |21 secured yto the amature |2| of magnet SM. Normally,

the cam roller 62|, which is mounted on a slidable bracket |29, is held out of the path of the said cam members,` by virtue of the latched member |21. Under` these conditions the cards Il are all stacked in a normal position, as shown in Fig. 7, in the discharge hopper Il by the stacker rolls |2l. Upon energization of the magnet SM, as described, the armature |2| and latch member |21-are moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 8', to release the spring urged bracket |29 carrying the cam roller |2|. Upon release thereof, the cam roller is raised upwardly in the path of cam member |2|. The engagement of the sloping portion of the latter with the cam roller causes the shaft |2l to be moved axially to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, thus, causing the card engaged by the stacker rolls |2|. at this time to be oil'set with respect to the other cards in the stack, as shown in the last mentioned ligure. After engagement of the high point of the cam member |24 with the cam roller, the restoring cam member |25 engages the cam roller to lower it and the supporting bracket |20 to its normal position, where the and controlled thereby. for storing, during each cycle, the data represented bythe sensed designations, and means controlled by the said storing means for controlling the perforating means, during each said cycle, for perforating'the sensed record aty the index point positions corresponding to those of `the sensed data designations.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein, the said storing means comprises rotary means and electromagnetically operated control means therefor, the latter being under control of the said sensing means.

`3. Theinvention set forth in claim 1. wherein, the said storing means comprises a plurality of fixed magnets. one for each column of data designations, rotatablel armatures. and means for presenting the latter to the magnets in timed relationship with the sensing of the index point positions. v

4. A cyclically operable perforating machine comprising, stationary sensing means, means for feeding an imperforate record bearing data designations, during each cycle of the machine, past the sensing means, whereby the latter sense successively the index point positions of each record, perforating means, means, operating in timed relationship with the record feeding means, and

' controlled bythe sensing means, for storing, during each cycle. the data `represented by the sensed designations, and means` controlled by the said storing means for controlling and perforating means, during each said cycle, for perforating the'sensed record at the index point positions corresponding to those of the sensed data designations.

5. A perforating machine of the class described, comprising, cyclically operable means for sensing successively the index point positions of an imperforate record bearing data designations, perforating means, means, operated in synchronism with the sensing means, and controlled thereby, for storing the data represented by the sensed designations, andmeans controlled by the said storing means for controlling the perforating means whereby the sensed record is perforated at thel index point positions corresponding to those of the sensed data designations.

6. '-The invention setforth in claim 1. wherein, sensing means are provided for sensing immediately the perforated record. and means controlled by the last mentioned sensing means for segregating those records, discharged from the perforating means, which are at variance with the sensed records before reaching the perforating means.

7. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein, sensing means are provided for sensing immediately the perforated record, and means, controlled by the last mentioned means, for segregating those records discharged from the perforating means, which are at variance with the sensed records before reaching the perforating means, including means for detecting the presence of unwanted perforations thereon, or detecting the absence of any perforation where one should be present.

8. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein, sensing means are provided for sensing immediately the perforated record, and means controlled thereby for offsetting those records. discharged from the perforating means, which are at variance with the sensed records before reaching the perforating means.

9. A perforating machine of the class described, comprising, means for sensing successively the index point positions of an imperforate record bearing data designations, perforating means, means controlled by the sensing means for rendering the perforating means effective to perforate the sensed record at index point positions corresponding to those of the sensed data designations, means for sensing immediately the perforated record, and means controlled by the last mentioned sensing means for segregating those records, discharged from the perforating means, which are at variance with the sensed records before reaching the perforating means.

10. A data storing device adapted for use in a record controlled machine comprising, a plurality of nxed electromagnets, a rotatable armature retainer including a plurality of radially arranged and equally spaced armatures,means for normally retaining the said armatures in latched positions and capable of releasing certain of said armatures as the latter are positioned past those electromagnets which are energized, and iixed contact means engaged by said released armatures, upon further rotation thereof.

11. A data storing device adapted for use in a record controlled machine comprising, a fixed electromagnet, a plurality of rotatable, latched armatures having means for unlatching certain ones of said armatures as the latter are positioned past the electromagnet, at such times, when the latter is energized, and contact means engaged, during the rotation of said armatures, by the said released armatures.

12. The invention set forth in claim 10, wherein, means are provided for effecting resetting of the said released armatures to the normal latched positions, after the engagement of the latter with the said contact means.

13. A data storing device adapted for use in a record controlled machine comprising, a plurality of iixed electromagnets, a rotatable armature retainer comprising outer and inner circular sections of electrical conducting material, said sections being slotted to receive a plurality of radially arranged and equally spaced armatures, means included in each of said armatures to cooperate with the said inner circular section to retain the armatures in normally latched positions, said last mentioned means permitting the release of those armatures passing those electromagnets which are energized, at such times, and contact means engaged by the said released armatures.

14. The invention set forth in claim 13, wherein the contact means comprise a plurality of xed arcuately shaped contact members which are effective to cause resetting of the said released armatures, to the normal latched positions, while the latter are in engagement with the contact means and after the engagement of the two for a predetermined time.

15. A segregating device adapted for use, in a record controlled machine comprising, a rotatable and axially displaceable shaft, stacker'rolls disposed on said shaft, positioning means mounted on one end of said shaft, and control means called into action to cooperate with said positioning means `for effecting axial displacement of the said shaft and rolls.

16. 'Ihe invention set forth in claim 15 wherein said control means comprise a positionable element and electromagnetically controlled means for controlling the positioning of said element whereby the latter is capable of cooperating with the said positioning means.

17. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein the said positioning means comprises cam member means.

REYNOLD B. JOHNSON. 

